LEH: Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, on Saturday reviewed dairy processing, local product development, waste management and rural infrastructure projects in Leh, stressing stronger farmer linkages, greater value addition, employment generation and improved livelihood opportunities.
Kundra inspected the Ladakh Oma Dairy Plant, where he reviewed milk, apricot and sea buckthorn processing units and sought details on processing capacity, use of local raw materials, quality standards, farmer linkages, payment mechanisms and benefits reaching local producers.
He called for stronger links between farmers and processing units to improve market access and returns, besides measures to improve milk quality through better cattle breeds, scientific feeding, fodder development, animal induction and breeding practices. He also stressed better connectivity with villages and dairy societies.
The Chief Secretary called for documenting successful experiences of farmers from remote areas through video-based stories to encourage participation in organised dairy activities. He also directed officials to identify and strengthen primary dairy societies and explore support mechanisms, including refrigerated vehicles, for efficient milk collection and transportation.
Kundra reviewed the proposed expansion of dairy facilities in Nubra and sought details on women involved in dairy activities, organic certification, manure management and future expansion.
He also reviewed the Kargil dairy plant, emphasising stronger farmer connectivity, milk collection and processing. He called for greater value addition in apricot and sea buckthorn, including juices and other processed products, and urged coordination among cooperatives, research institutions and departments.
Later, Kundra inaugurated the 3 TPD Tri-Fusion Gasifier Incinerator at the Solid Waste Resource Management Centre (SRMC), Choglamsar. Officials demonstrated the technology, which uses controlled thermal treatment to reduce waste substantially to ash while providing for controlled handling of gases and vapours.
Kundra sought details on the treatment process, emissions management, operational safety, residual ash and its potential utilisation. He also reviewed plans for managing legacy waste and asked about extending the technology to other parts of Ladakh. Officials said similar interventions were being explored for Khaltsi and Nubra.
The Chief Secretary subsequently inspected the RDD Guest House, where construction and finishing works are nearing completion. The facility is expected to be ready for handover by September 15. He reviewed its rooms, suites, kitchen, landscaping, furnishing and protocol arrangements.
He also visited the nearby NRLM building and reviewed its functioning, infrastructure and scope for further strengthening. The visits focused on assessing ground-level progress and identifying areas requiring intervention, with emphasis on local employment, value addition, scientific waste management and rural infrastructure.
